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She nodded, unable to form the words. Maybe this was how it ended for her, in the icy embrace of the river. It felt like everything had brought her to this one moment.
“On the count of five.”
“Uh, huh.” Her teeth clacked.
“Five. Four—” He pushed backward, lifting her off her feet. Icy water engulfed her, stealing the whimper of pain from her lips. She was detached from the world, free falling into icy nothingness. The only thing anchoring her to safety was Griff. Her body jerked with his strokes as he kicked them deeper into the middle of the river, his breath coming in short, powerful gasps as he worked hard to maneuver the log into the pull of the current. Gray sky glowered overhead. She didn’t believe in heaven or hell, but she liked to think Luke might somehow be up there, no pain, no terror, released from it all.
Because he was gone. The knowledge sank into her frozen bones along with the cold. Nothing would bring him back.
But I have so much to live for.
The agonizing cold made her heart beat faster, her skin sensitive to the pain of life.
Life.
Jo gasped, the icy shock fading. She had to help Griff. She scissored her deadened legs, doing her best to aid him. Everything had changed in a matter of days. She had everything to live for.
They were in the center now, the water finally doing all the work. All that was needed was gentle steering to avoid jutting rocks. The river swept them round a corner. With both of them working hard, the log slowly edged nearer to the opposite bank. So close, but the drag of the water was powerful. Rocks and trees whipped past in a freezing blur of gray, green, and white. The trunk bobbed and fought against her grip, the bark slimy and rotten.
“We need an exit.” The rattle of his teeth clipped Griff’s words. “Look.” He jerked his head toward a low-lying tree. The trunk of the tree twisted, looping down into the water. “That’s our way out. You with me?”
Jo spoke through the ache of her gritted teeth. “Always.”
“That’s my girl.”
The tree loomed as the current hurtled them down the river.
We’re too far away. We’ll miss it.
Griff surged upward and caught the trailing edge of one branch. Anchored, the river whipped them about face, so Jo looked upstream. Freezing water smashed over her face. For seconds, she was submerged in a brutal world. Icy water overwhelmed her, making her scalp cramp. A week ago, she would have given in, relinquished the fight, and let the merciless waters take her.
Not any more.
Summoning every ounce of strength, Jo kicked furiously, propelling herself upward. She broke the surface, gulping precious air into her starving lungs. Strong hands grabbed her hips, boosting her toward the overhanging branches. Rough bark sliced her palm as she scrambled for purchase, but she clenched her jaw against the pain and pulled with all her might. The pain was intense. Searing. Rivulets of blood ran down her arms.
Reaching higher to a thicker branch, Jo hauled herself horizontally onto the trunk, collapsing on the pitted wood as water streamed off her trembling body.
I’m out.
She crawled desperately along the branch till it dipped to solid ground. Leaf litter stuck to her skin as she collapsed, exhausted and rolled onto her back.
Seconds later, Griff landed heavily beside her, chest heaving. He gathered her into his arms. “You okay?”
Above, the sky peeking between the bare trees was a breath-taking vivid blue. A sky of hope.
Euphoric laughter bubbled up inside her. She was alive. Battered and bleeding, but alive. And it was because of the man holding her. This protector who kept putting his own life on the line to save hers.
A hiccupy laugh escaped her. “Yes.” He was by her side and they were alive. That was enough.
43
Griff breathed between clenched teeth, taking a few moments to recover from the savage water. Jo shivered in his arms. Time to move.
“Let’s get dried off.” He pulled the dry-bags from his backpack as Jo huddled next to him, her arms locked around her knees.
“Jo. We need to get into dry clothes.” He fought to keep the concern from his voice.
He yanked his sweater over his head. Enough to keep him warm while he ensured Jo was ok. He pulled her clothes from the dry-bag as a low moan escaped her. Her head fell forward, tendrils of hair hanging hiding her beautiful face.
